🎤 EMPIRE: THE LYON’S SECRET

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Characters

Jayla

Main Character — Jayla Monroe Age: 22 From: Atlanta, Georgia Languages: English and Spanish Personality: Feminine, confident, sweet, stubborn when challenged Talents: Singing, songwriting, dancing, piano, and producing Job: Independent singer-songwriter Car: Black Mercedes-AMG Jayla has spent years building her career without a famous last name. No label. No family connections. No shortcuts. Until one song changes everything.

Hakeem

Hakeem Lyon Age: 23 Job: Rapper, producer, and Lyon family heir Personality: Cocky, charismatic, competitive, secretly soft-hearted Talent: Rap, production, songwriting, performing Hakeem is used to people wanting something from him. Jayla doesn’t. That’s what catches his attention.

Malik

Malik “Mal” Johnson Age: 23 From: Chicago, Illinois Job: Producer & songwriter Languages: English Personality: Chill, sarcastic, loyal, and the one who keeps Hakeem from making terrible decisions. Talents: Producing, rapping, piano, and beat-making. Car: Black Dodge Charger. Mal has known Hakeem since they were teenagers. He’s one of the few people who will tell Hakeem when he’s acting stupid—and survive the conversation. Mal: “Bro, you’re staring.” Hakeem: “I’m listening to the music.” Mal: “The music is upstairs.” Hakeem rolls his eyes. Hakeem: “Shut up.”

Darius

Darius “Dre” King Age: 24 From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Job: Music manager & songwriter Languages: English and conversational French Personality: Confident, funny, protective, and always ready to stir up trouble. Talents: Songwriting, networking, dancing, and freestyle rapping. Car: Dark gray Mercedes-Benz GLE. Hakeem: “I just met her.” Dre grins. Dre: “Exactly. And you’ve been watching that door for the last five minutes.” Hakeem grabs his headphones. Hakeem: “Both of y’all need hobbies.” Mal laughs.

Amaya

Amaya “Maya” Reynolds Age: 22 From: Charlotte, North Carolina Job: Fashion stylist & social media creator Languages: English and Spanish Personality: Feminine, bubbly, protective, dramatic in the funniest way, and always knows when Jayla is hiding something. Talents: Styling, makeup, photography, dancing, and social media. Car: White Range Rover Evoque. Maya has been Jayla’s best friend since college. She knows every crush Jayla has ever had—and she is absolutely not going to let Jayla pretend she isn’t attracted to Hakeem. When Jayla walks out of the studio after meeting him, Maya immediately notices her expression. Maya: “Why are you smiling?” Jayla: “I’m not.” Maya: “Girl, yes you are.” Jayla tries to walk past her. Maya: “Who is he?” Jayla stops. Jayla: “Nobody.” Maya gasps dramatically. Maya: “Oh, it’s a boy.”

Tiana

Tiana “Tia” Brooks Age: 23 From: Houston, Texas Job: Music attorney Languages: English and conversational Portuguese Personality: Calm, intelligent, blunt, protective, and impossible to fool. Talents: Piano, songwriting, negotiation, and singing. Car: Black Audi S5. Tia is Jayla’s reality check. She’s the friend who reads contracts before Jayla signs them, checks everybody’s intentions, and makes sure nobody takes advantage of her. She meets Jayla outside Empire and immediately notices Hakeem watching from the studio window. Tia: “Is that Hakeem Lyon?” Jayla glances back. Jayla: “Apparently.” Tia folds her arms. Tia: “Stay careful.” Maya looks between them. Maya: “Why?” Tia looks at Hakeem. Tia: “Because men with that much confidence usually come with problems.” Jayla laughs. Jayla: “He’s not interested in me.” From across the room, Hakeem is still watching her. Maya and Tia exchange a look. Maya: “Sure.” Tia: “Definitely.” Jayla rolls her eyes. She has no idea that Hakeem is already asking Mal and Dre everything they know about her.

Lucious

Lucious Lyon Age: 50 Job: Founder of Empire Entertainment Personality: Powerful, demanding, intimidating, ambitious Talents: Music production, business, songwriting Relationship with Hakeem: Complicated. He expects Hakeem to prove that he deserves the Lyon name. Lucious has built Empire from the ground up, and he doesn’t trust easily. When he hears Jayla singing in the studio, however, even Lucious has to stop and listen. Lucious: “Who signed her?” Hakeem: “Nobody.” Lucious looks at his son. Lucious: “Then why is she here?”

Cookie Lyon Age: 48 Job: Music executive & co-owner of Empire Personality: Fierce, hilarious, protective, stylish, and brutally honest Relationship with Hakeem: She loves her son fiercely but refuses to let him get away with acting foolish. Cookie immediately likes Jayla. She sees the girl’s talent before anyone even tells her who Jayla is. Cookie: “Baby, what’s your name?” Jayla: “Jayla.”

Marcus

Marcus Monroe Age: 49 From: Savannah, Georgia Job: Former touring musician; now owns a small recording studio Personality: Calm, protective, funny, and extremely close to Jayla Talents: Guitar, songwriting, and producing Marcus taught Jayla how to play piano when she was six

Renee

Renee Monroe Age: 47 From: Savannah, Georgia Job: Vocal coach and music teacher Personality: Warm, elegant, observant, and protective Talents: Singing, piano, vocal training, and songwriting Renee was Jayla’s first vocal coach.

Intro

The Lyon family is in the middle of a serious meeting in Lucious’s office. Hakeem sits across from his father, while Mal and Dre sit beside him. Cookie is standing near the window, arms crossed. Lucious: “Hakeem, your next album needs direction. You can’t keep jumping from one sound to another.” Hakeem: “I know what I’m doing, Dad.” Lucious: “Do you?” Dre: “Here we go.” Mal: “Just let them argue.” Cookie shakes her head. Cookie: “Both of y’all better listen. Your father isn’t wrong.” Hakeem leans back. Hakeem: “Everybody has something to say about my music.” Suddenly— music begins playing somewhere down the hall. Everyone stops talking. It’s a piano melody. Soft at first. Then a woman’s voice joins it. Beautiful. Powerful. The entire room goes quiet. Dre: “Uh…” Mal: “That’s not one of ours.” Hakeem slowly looks toward the door. Hakeem: “Who is that?” Lucious stands. Lucious: “That’s what I’d like to know.” Cookie smiles slightly. Cookie: “Sounds like somebody found a piano.” The singing gets stronger. Hakeem walks toward the office door. Dre: “Where you going?” Hakeem: “To see who it is.” Mal: “Meeting isn’t over.” Hakeem looks back. Hakeem: “It is for me.” Dre laughs. Dre: “Man, you were just complaining about people interrupting your meeting.” Hakeem: “That was before I heard this.” Cookie follows him. Cookie: “I’m coming too.” Lucious grabs his jacket. Lucious: “So am I.” Dre looks at Mal. Dre: “We going?” Mal: “Obviously.” They all quietly walk down the hallway. The music gets louder. Hakeem stops outside Studio B. Through the glass, they see Jayla sitting at the piano. Her eyes are closed. She has no idea anyone is watching. Maya is sitting on the couch listening. Tia stands beside the mixing board. Jayla finishes the song. Silence. Then Hakeem whispers— Hakeem: “Wow.” Lucious looks at him. Lucious: “You know her?” Hakeem doesn’t take his eyes off Jayla. Hakeem: “Yeah.” Cookie looks at her son. Then at Jayla. A knowing smile slowly appears on her face. Cookie: “Ohhh.” Hakeem turns. Hakeem: “What?” Cookie: “Nothing.” Dre leans toward Mal. Dre: “He’s cooked.” Mal: “Completely.” Hakeem gives them both a warning look. Hakeem: “Y’all better shut up.” Jayla suddenly opens her eyes. She sees everyone standing outside the studio. Her eyes widen. Jayla: “Oh my God.” Maya turns around. Maya: “Oh.” Tia looks through the glass. Tia: “Well… that’s everybody.” Jayla slowly stands. Cookie opens the studio door. Cookie: “Baby, don’t stop because we’re listening.” Jayla blushes. Jayla: “I didn’t know anyone was there.” Hakeem smiles. Hakeem: “That’s probably why it sounded so good.” Jayla looks at him. Jayla: “Was that a compliment?” Hakeem: “Maybe.” Cookie rolls her eyes. Cookie: “Boy, stop flirting and let the girl breathe.” Dre bursts out laughing. Dre: “THANK YOU.” Hakeem shakes his head.

Release Date 2026.08.10 / Last Updated 2026.08.10